Rotary engine.



PATENTED APR. .5, 1904.

T. P. BUTLER. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 1T0 MODEL.

1% S SS N WN WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY w: nonms PETERS c0. PHOTCLLITHO wasumarom u c.,

PATENTYED Arms, 1904. v

'1. P. BUTLER.

I ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1963.

- '4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R0 MODEL.

1;, ATTORNEY.

I illllllllllllllllllllllll EATENTED APR. 5, 1901 T. P. BUTLER. ROTARYENGINE. Arruonlon 11.31 JULY 2a, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED APR. 5,1904. Y

T. P. BUTLER.

ROTARY ENGINE. AggLIOATION FILED JULY 23, 1903.

' no imam.

- ATTORNEY,

UNITED, STATES Patented April 5, 1904.

THOMAS PERCY BUTLER, OF WANTAGH, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,210, dated April 5,1904.

Application filed July 23, 1903'. Serial No. 166,736- (No model.)

To all whom, it WI/(by concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs PERCY BUTLER, of the town of Wantagh, countyof Nassau, State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe a rotary engine embodying my improvement and then pointout the novel features in claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is partly a central longitudinalsection and partly an elevation of an engine embodying my im' provement.Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken in two differentplanes close to one end of the smallest of three cylinders which arecomprised in the engine. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the largest of saidcylinders. Fig. 4 is partly a longitudinal section. and partly anelevation of the smallest cylinder. Fig. 5 is a similar view of thelargest cylinder. Fig. 6 shows a segment of the'piston of the smallestcylinder, being partly an end view and partly a transverse section in aspiral line about the axis. Fig. 7.is a transverse section of the pistonof the smallest cylinder, taken spirally around the same. Fig. 8 is aview of the top or circumference and a section taken parallel to the topor circumference of two rib-coils'and intermediate abutments comprisedin thepiston of the smallest cylinder. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectionof a portion of said piston, showing adjacent rib-coils and intermediateabutments. Fig. 10 is a per: spectivc view of one of the abutments. Fig.11 is anotherview of the smallest cylinder and its concomitants, someparts beingshown in elevation, others in section at various planes, andcertain abutments being removed.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts of all thefigures.

The three cylinders of the illustrated engine are marked A B C in thedrawings. As shown, cylinder A is the smallest, cylinder C the largest,and cylinder B of intermediate size. These cylinders are fitted withpistons A B O.

of the same general characteristics and are so represented'in thedrawings. Obviously there may beless or more than tln'ee cylinders andpistons. Preferably the pistons of the three The cylinders and pistonsmay be cylinders are aflixed toa common shaft D, and when this featureof construction is adopted the three cylinders and pistons will ofcourse be in line. This arrangement is characteristic of some of thefeatures of my improvement, but is not essential to others.

The shaft D may be supported in any suitable bearings provided in theheads of the cylinders and made in any number of sections coupledtogether.

Q With the described'arrangement of cylinders livesteam will be used inthe smallest cylinder and exhausted thence into the second cylinder andfinally into the third cylinder. 5

The pistons A B C have circular and preferably cylindric bodies providedexternally with spiral rib-coils a b 0, having between them abutments ab 0. The detailed description of one of these pistons will be applicable7 to each of the others; but whenever the machine or device to be drivenby the engine will not counteract end thrustof the pistons it will beadvantageous to make the vdirection of the spirals of the rib-coilsdifferent in the several pistons to minimize end thrust of the shaft D.The pitch of the spirals of the several pistons will generally, if notalways, be different. I have shown the spirals of the rib-coilsbelonging to the piston A as left-hand spirals and those of the pistonsB and Gas right-hand spirals. Outside the rib-coils and abutments of thepistons are shells a b 0 which form integral parts of the pistons.

The smallest cylinder A and its concomi- 5 tants will be selected for adetailed description, because of being most fully illustrated in thedrawings. I I

The cylinder A is of ordinaryform, providedat the ends with flanges,and, generally 9 speaking, the heads of the cylinder are also ofordinary form, and they may be secured to the flanges of the cylinder bybolts. Each of the cylinder-heads is provided with an inwardly-extendinghub a preferably circular in form. These hubs a extend close to the endsof the piston'A. Intermediate of. the piston A and the cylinder A is areversible valve and steam-distributer E. This will presently bedescribed in detail. It will be sufli- I00 i the piston.

cient to say now that itis incapable of rotary movement, but is capableof a longitudinal movement relatively both to the cylinder and Asalready stated, the rib-coils extend in spiral lines around the body ofthe piston. The abutments, which are arranged between the1n,may best beunderstood by reference to Fig. 10, where one is shown in perspective,for although they are of two kinds, which are arranged in alternation,yet the general structure is always the same and consists of a block a,provided with guide-pieces a for securing the block in place. A set ofblocks a are arranged with their edges in contact, as shown best inFigs. 6 and 7. The bases of one set bear upon the body of the piston.The bases of the other set bear against the inner surface of thecylindric shell a of the piston. It is of course advantageous to shapethe bases of the abutments so that they will conform to and have afirmbearing upon the surfaces by which they are supported. The operativesurfaces of each abutment are made in the form of reverse arcs extendingfrom the ends of the abutment toward each other until they meet and formridges parallel with the ends of the abutments, but projectingconsiderably beyond the plane of those edges. The abutments in two setsare so arranged that they form salient ridges, each set of which havetheir ridges opposite the longitudinal end edges of the abutmentscomprised in the other set. The abutments are held in position by theengagement of their guidepieces a with grooves formed in the oppositefaces of the rib-coils,between which the abutments are arranged.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 that the construction .andarrangement of the abutments which 1 have described form sinuouspassages between adjacent rib-coils. Steam entering the spaces betweenthe ribcoils and acting upon these abutments will fulfil its dutywithout any detrimental eddy-currents, and this is due to the characterof the passages which have been provided by the new construction andarrangement of abutments. Where the passages formed between theabutments terminate at the ends of the piston, they are of somewhatdifferent construction. This difference may be best understood byreference to Fig. 6, where not only the end, but also the middle or mainportion, of a passage is represented, owing to the fact that this figureis partly an end elevation and partly a spiral section of a segment of apiston. At the end of the piston each passage is destitute of abutments.It is divided into two arc-shaped ports or openings a and a arrangedconcentrically to each other and to the axis of the piston. Thisconstruction is the same at both ends of the piston, because the pistonis intended to be reversible. The outer arc-shaped ports or openings ofwill be the inlets for steam, and the inner arc-shaped ports or openings(0 will be always the outlets for steam. Of course at any time when thearc-shaped ports or openings a serve as the inlets for one end of thepiston the arc-shaped ports or openings a at the same end will beinoperative, and those at the other end will constitute the exhaustports or openings.

The reversing-valve and steam-distributer E cooperates with thearc-shaped ports or openings a a. When steam is admitted into one end ofthe cylinder A, the device E slides away from that end of the cylinderand into close proximity with the adjacent end of the piston A. Then thearc-shaped ports or openings a in that end of the piston will be closedby the adjacentend piece of the device E; but the arc-shaped ports oropenings a at said end of the piston will receive steam through thearc-shaped ports or openings 0 with which the said end piece of thedevice E is provided. The other end piece of the device E will then havebeen moved wholly away from the adjacent end of the piston, and hencesteam may escape through the arc-shaped ports or openings a in thelast-mentioned end of the piston. Each of the ports or openings shouldbe of a length and its end walls of such an angle as to cause the steamto enter a passage between adjacent rib-coils in the most effectivemanner.

To avoid any misunderstanding, it may be added that each of the endpieces 6 e of the device E is provided withuniformly-distributedarc-shaped ports or openings a, which coincide withthe arc-shaped ports or openings a of the piston. It is because of theseports or openings 0 that the device E has the function ofasteam-distributer. It has the function of a reversing-valve, becauseupon the introduction of steam into either end of the cylinder it willbe moved into a position to cut ofl" the arc-shaped exhaust ports oropenings a at that end of the piston which is adjacent to the cylinderand where steam is admitted and open the arc-shaped ports or openings aat the other end of the piston.

The construction of the arc-shaped exhaust ports or openings a isbelieved to be important, and so they have been formed at theirextremities with a turn or deflection different from the main course ofthe rib spirals, this being for the purpose of utilizing the reaction ofthe steam during its escape.

It may be added in explanation of the device E that it may be made witha cylindric shell 0 and two separately-made end pieces 0' 0 all rigidlysecured together. As shown, the cylindric shell 0 has a sliding fitbetween the piston A and the body of the cylinder A and projects beyondthe heads 0 6 so that its ends may work within circular recesses a,formed between the body of said cylinder and its heads. The end pieces aa have been shown as provided with circular rims a, fitting the hubs aof the cylinder-heads and working within recesses 60 which are formed inthe heads of the cylinder; The rims a may advantageously be formedintegral with the end pieces 0 and the latter may be fixedly united withthe shell 6 by means of screw threads, as shown in Fig. 11.

It may be advantageous to connect the valve E of one cylinder with thatof another. The valves of all three cylinders have been shown soconnected. The connections between the valves E of the cylinders A B isshown as consisting of astem or rod 6 passing through a stuffing-box eand provided with a toothed rack e, which engages with a toothed pinione mounted on a standard 6 and engaging also with a toothed rack 6arranged upon a stem or rod e, which is secured to the valve E of thecylinder B and passes through a suitable stuffing-box. A similarconnection is provided between the valves E'of the cylinders B and C,consisting of a stem or rod e ex tending from the valve E of thecylinder B through a stuffing-box e and provided with. a toothed rack eengaging with a toothed pinion. 6 mounted in a bracket 0 and engagingwith a toothed pinion 6 which is also mountedin said bracket and whichengages with a toothed rack 6 arranged upon a stem 6 working through astufling-box e and connected with the valve E of the cylinder C. Evenifthe valves E are not connected it may be desirable to provide themwith stems suchas the stems e e a, and e for the purpose of enabling theattendant to observe the workings of the valves E from outside of thecylinders.

Obviously all the valves E may have their stems connected with a commonlever outside of the cylinders A B C to enable the attendant to shiftthe valves together in order to efiect the reversal of the engine.

As here shown, steam is supplied through a pipe F to branch pipes F Fcontrolled by throttle-valves f f By opening one'of thesethrottle-valves and closing the other steam may be permitted to entereither. end of the cylinder A. In Fig. 1 it is supposed. to be passingthrough the pipe F into the right+ hand end of the cylinder A. Atwhichever end it enters it will act upon the valve E to shift itlongitudinally-within the cylinder in the manner and with the resultalready described.

The cylinder A is provided with two ex haust-ports a a, which arearranged in its circumference one near each end. The shell 6 of thedevice E is provided with similar exhaust-ports 0 6 but these are not sofar apart as are the exhaust-ports a" a Hence when one of them coincideswith the exhaustports a a the other will fail to do so. When the valve Eis moved in one direction-as, for instance, to the left, as shown inFig. 1its port 6 will coincide with the exhaust-port a of the cylinder Aand permit the escape of steam through the latter; but at this time theport 6 of the valve E will be out of line with the port a of thecylinder A, and hence the latter port will be closed. The reversemovement of the valve E will close the cylinderport a and open thecylinder-port a From the outlet-port a of the cylinder A a pipe Grextends to one end of the cylinder B, and from the outlet-port a of thecylinder A a pipe G extends to the other end of the cylinder B. From theoutlet-port a of the cylinder B a pipe G extends to one end of thecylinder (3, and from the outlet-porter of the cylinder B a pipe Grextends to the other end of the cylinder C. Theends of the cylinder Gare provided with outlets a Steam entering the cylinder Aas, forinstance, at its right-hand end on Fig. l--will cause the valve E to beshifted toward the other end, so that it will close the arc-shaped portsor openings (0 at the adjacent end of the piston A and open thearc-shaped. ports or openings (6 at the other end of the piston. Thusthe steam will be permitted to flow into the passages between thevarious rib-coils and between the sets of abutments in spiral directionsabout the axis of the piston, but in a sinuous course toward and fromthe axisof the pistons without eddy-currents until it escapes into thespace between the farther end of the piston and the opposite end pieceof the valve E. Thence it will flow through the pipe G into the cylinderB and there operate in the same manner, escaping into the pipe G andflowing into the cylinder C to operate there again and eventually passto the atmosphere or to a condenser.

It must, of course, be understood that at the ingress of the steam intothe cylinders B and C their valves E will be appropriately shifted tocause a flow of steam in the proper direction.

Although reference has been made only to steam, all equivalent motivefluids may be used without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with an internally-oil": cular casing of a rotarypiston, comprising a shell, a body or shaft, rib-coils extending spirally between said body or shaft and shell, and

abutments extending across the space between adjacent rib-coils, somefrom the interior of the shell and some from the piston-body, andconstructed so as to provide a passage running sinuously toward and fromthe axis of the bod or shaft.

2. The combination with an internally-circular casing of a rotarypiston, comprising a body or shaft, rib-coils extending spirally aroundsaid body or shaft, and abutments extending across the space betweenadjacent ribcoils, and arranged in two sets, having reversely-curvedarc-shaped opposite surfaces,

' faces, meeting to form ridges, and the ridges of opposite abutmentsbeing arranged out of line, so as to form a continuous passage, andextending sinuously toward and from the axis of the body or shaft.

4. The combination with an internally-circular easing, of a rotarypiston, comprising a body or shaft, rib-coils extending spirally aroundsaid body or shaft, and two sets of abutments arranged one set outwardof the other, and extending across the space between adjacent rib-coils,the several abutments being made separately, and fitted to slideways inthe rib-coils.

5. The combination with an internally-circular casing, of a rotarypiston, comprising a body or shaft, rib-coils extending spirally aroundsaid body or shaft, and two sets of abutments arranged one set outwardof the other, and extending across the space between adjacent rib-coils,and each formed with two arc-shaped surfaces, meeting to form a ridge,and provided with guide-pieces, for engaging slideways in the rib-coils.

6. The combination with an internally-circular casing, of a rotarypiston, comprising a body or shaft, rib-coils extending spirally aroundsaid body or shaft, abutments extending across the space betweenadjacent rib-coils, and outward of said body or shaft, andexhaust-passages at the ends of the spaces between adjacent rib-eoils,having a turn or deflection different from the main course of saidspace, so that the reaction of escaping motive fluid may be utilized, tocontribute to the desired rotation of the piston.

7 The combination with an internally-circular casing, and a rotarypiston adapted to receive a motive fluid at either end, means forconducting motive fluid to either end of the cylinder, and a valvearranged between the casing and piston for opening and closing theproper ports of the piston for causing its rotation in the desireddirection.

8. The combination with an internally-circular casing, and a rotarypiston adapted to receive a motive fluid at either end, means forconducting motive fluid to either end of the cylinder, and a valve,operated by the inflowing motive fluid, to open and close the properports of the piston for causing its rotation in the desired direction.

9. The combination with an internally-circular casing, and a rotarypiston adapted to receive a motive fluid at either end, means forconducting motive fluid to either end of the cylinder, and a valvefitting within a cylinder and surrounding the circumference and ends ofthe piston, and movable lengthwise of the cylinder, and piston to openand close the proper ports of the piston, to secure the rotation of thepiston in the desired direction.

10. The combination with an internally-circular casing, and a rotarypiston adapted to receive a motive fluid at either end, means forconducting motive fluid to either end of the cylinder, and a valvefitting within a cylinder and surrounding the circumference and ends ofthe piston, and movable under the influence of the motive fluid,lengthwise of the cylinder and piston, to open and close the properports of the piston, to secure the rotation of the piston in the desireddirection.

11. The combination of a plurality of cylinders, a corresponding numberof rotary pistons, connections between the cylinders so that exhaustmotive fluid from either end of one cylinder may pass into one end ofanother cylinder, and a valve between the first-mentioned cylinder andits piston, for reversing its inlet and outlet.

12. The combination of a plurality of cylinders, a corresponding numberof rotary pistons, connections between the cylinders,so that exhaustmotive fluid from either end of one cylinder may pass into one end ofanother cylinder, and a valve, operated by the inflowing motive fluid,in the first-mentioned cylinder, for reversing its inlet and outlet.

13. The combination of a plurality of cylinders, a corresponding numberof rotary pistons, connections between the cylinders,so that exhaustmotive fluid from either end of one cylinder may pass into one end ofanother cylinder, and a valve between the cylinder and piston of eachengine, which discharges into the cylinder of another engine, saidvalves being for the purpose of reversing the pistons, and connectionsbetween said valves in the different cylinders.

14. The combination of a plurality of cylinders, and a correspondingnumber of rotary pistons, comprising spiral rib-coils, running inreverse directions upon different pistons, to minimize end thrust uponthe piston-shaft.

THOMAS PERCY BUTLER.

Witnesses:

M. W. ONELAND, ARTHUR A. SCHOMBURG.

